Switch control device



Oct. 12, 1948.y c. R. -MccAULEY SWITCH CONTROL DEVICE Filed June 29, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 12, 19248. c. R. MccAULEY SWITCH CONTROL DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 29, 1945 www Patented Get. i2, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to switch control devices such as would be suitable for use in conjunction with fuel, oil iilling control systems for ships of the type disclosed in Patent No. 2,340,070, dated January 25, 1944, and which would also be suitable for use with valves employed in other systems.

The object of the invention is the provision of a switch operating arrangement wherein the switches are operated by and at the moment a valve is closed and are effectively locked in adjusted position against accidental or manual displacement in all other positions of the valve.

A further object is the provision of a switch operating control device embodying such features of structural simplicity as to permit its convenient application to conventional forms of screw operated valves whereby these may be utilized in the switch controlled part of such fluid systems as the one referred to in the patent above mentioned.

A still further object is to provide a switch operating mechanism that is of watertight construction such as required on board ship which will operate on the last quarter turn of the valve in its closing operation,

In the accompanying drawing wherein an approved embodiment of the invention is illustrated,

Fig. 1 'is a top plan view of the switch control device constructed in accordance with the invention,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof partly in section,

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional View through the switch casing,

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the switch mechanism, the bottom of the casing being removed.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the numeral Ill designates generally a type of valve such as employed in the control device of Patent No. 2.340.070 for controlling the ilow of fuel from the manifold to the fuel tanks. The valve is constituted by a usual casing provided with a bonnet I! in which is threaded the screw stern I`2 of the adjustable valve member, a hand wheel I3 being secured to the terminal of the screw stem by a nut I4.

In accordance with the invention an operating hood I5 is secured on the valve stem I 2 under the hand wheel I 3 by the nut I4 and participates in the combined rotary and axial movement of the stem incident to the opening and closing movements of the valve. The medial portion of the hood which is secured under the hand wheel I3 is dome shape and terminates in a skirt portion I8 depending from a flange I'I. At a point immediately below the flange I'I the skirt I6 is formed with a slot I8 which is relatively narrow and of suiiicient length to accommodate the switch actuating arm, as will be hereinafter more fully described. As will be understood, the length of the slot I8 extends in the circumferential direction of the skirt I6 and the pin te is secured to the flange il by means of a threaded stem 2o passing through. an aperture provided` in a iiange and cooperating with a nut 2E The pin i 9 extends parallel with the valve stem iZ and the extent of the projection thereof beyond the iiange Il may be varied as required by turning the threaded stem 2D in the thread aperture in the flange il and subsequently securing the pin. in adjusted position by tightening nut 2 I.

The switch controlled by the valve It! was designated generally at 22 and the Contact members thereof are actuated by an arm 23 pivotally mounted at 24 and movable between fixed stops 25 integral with the casing of the switch, The arm 23, together with the pivot 2li thereof are those movable through an angle determined by the space between the stops 25, and in moving from one position to the other the switch contacts are either opened or closed.

The supporting plate 25 having the switch casing is adjustably secured to the valve housing by the bonnet bolts 2l in such position that in the two alternating positions of the arm 23 the latter is so disposed as to be heldin an adjusted position by the depending skirt IG, except for the position of the valve in which the movable valve member is substantially closed. In this position the skirt I ii occupies its lowermost position and in completing the last revolution of the hand wheel the pin I9 moves into the horizontal plane occupied by the arm 23 and, entering a terminal slot 2B therein, shifts the arm 23 from one position to the other, During the rocking movement of the arm 23 the terminal thereof passes through the slot I8 and is subsequently held against displacement by the skirt `which thus constitutes a guard obstructing the movement of the switch arm.

The casing of 4the switch 22 is provided with a cover plate 29 formed with a depending support 30 in which the shaft 24 constituting the pivotal axis of the arm 23 is mounted. A retaining plate 3i having spaced notches 32 therein cooperates with a spring 33 whereby the switch arm and shaft are held in adjusted position against lost movement.

An operating cam 34 is secured to the shaft 24 and in one position thereof operates to depress the leaf springs 35 of the switches 3l. Switches 3l are commercial. type switches of: the snep action type and totally enclosed in their own individual cases. These switches are bolted or otherwise secured to a supporting plate 38 attached to the cover plate 2Q by a bolt Proper adjustment of the position of the switches 3l in relation to the cam 34 is aiected by adjusting screws 39 and 40 of which the screw 39 is threaded in the supporting plate 38 and is engageable with a stop member 4| on the cover plate 29 while the screw 40 is threaded in a block 42 integral with the cover 29 and is engageable with a shoulder 43 on the supporting plate138`;

The electrical connections to the switches 31: are made in the usual manner and for convenience in so doing a terminal block 44 provided with',

screw 45 are provided in the switch casing.. The

switch casing is also preferably of fluid" tight" construction and is provided with connections 4.6-

for terminal tubes including the conductors extending to the switch contacts. Also, the'ca'sing is provided with a window 4l through which. a lamp is visible for indicating to the operator the correcttimeion closing thevalve Aswillbe understoodthe. switches 3l areA to be used. in conjunction withv circuits such as em.- pl'oyed in. the. electrically controlled' fuel lling system, oi Patent No. 2,340,070. Further, the cooperationbetween. the valve skirt l5, pin .l a and switch actuating arm 23 is such as to insure that the. valve will. be practically closedV before the switches. are operated and this is essential in the safeA and ecentoperation of control systems `of l said screw, abutment means for limiting arcuate movement of the switch operating lever, means carried by said screw and operable in a predetermined axial position of said screw for engaging and moving said lever through its arcuate limits of movement, and means carried by said screw and* eiectiveiirr all other: positions ofv said screw to obstruct movement of said switch operating lever.

4. In combination a rotatable and axially dis- V,placeable valve operating screw, a switch operat- `ing lever movable between xed arcuate limits mounted adjacent said screw, a flange having an adjustable pin near its periphery carried by said screw and engageable with said switch operatingzlever at a predetermined axial position of said screw for moving said switch operating lever between said fixed arcuate limits and a1 skirt means carried by said valve operating screw effective through all other positions of said' valve operating screw for maintaining said switch operatingy lever at the limits' ofI its arcuate movement. y

5; lin` combination a rotatable and axiallydisplaceable valve operating screw, aA switch operating lever swingably mounted adjacent said screw,

, a ilange carried' by said screw and` movable the type to which the present invention refers.

The pin I9 is so adjusted that during the last' quarter. of thevalve stem. I.2.the terminal thereof' When the pin I9 passes mechanism in its adjusted position. Incident to n the. opening movement of the valve, the hand wheel. 1.9. is rotated in the reverse direction, and in. sov doing the pin 1.9 re-enters theslot 2.3 thereby. rockingv the arm 23 into the first.. position. The skirt liiis ofsuiiicient length inthe direction of the axis of the screw stem l2. to. enable the valve to-be completely open andat the same time maintain cooperativerelation between said skirt and' the. arm 23.`

What I, claim is:

l.. In. combination, a rotatable and axiallyV displaceablevalve operating screw, aswitch operating. lever, means. movable axially and .rotatably with. said screw to engage andoperate theswitch operating lever when theI screw has reached a predetermined' axiaLpcsitiom and stop. meansior said switch. operating lever movable with said screw eectiveinall other p ositionsof said screw for. preventing operation of saidswitch operating lever.

2. In combination, arotatable and axially displaceable valve operating screw, a switch operating lever, means movable rotatably and axially with said screwv to engageand operate the switch operating lever when the screw has reached a predetermined position in its axial rtravel, anda skirt shaped means carried by said screw and movable therewith to obstruct the movement of the switch operating lever in all other axial positions of the screw.

3. In combination, a rotatable and axially displaceable valve operating screw, a switch operating levermovable in a plane at right angles to therewith in an axial direction andi` rotatable therewith, a pin adjustable mountedV near the periphery of said'fiange andy engageable withsaid switch operating lever in aj predeterminedI position offsaid valve operating' screw to operate said switch Operating lever, and a skirt means also carried by said'valveY operating screw and movabletherewith adjacent the endv ofK said lever for preventing movement of said`= lever in' all' other positions oi-said'valve operating'screw, said.7 skirt including a slot adjacent the pin on said' flange permitting the free movement of' said lever when engaged' by said pin.

62 I'n combination, a rotatable and Yaxially displaceable valve operating screw, a switch operating shaftmount'ed parallel and adjacent' to said screw, a lever'on one' endv` of said' shaftextendin'g toward saicll screw andiy movable between `fixed limits; a flange carriedby saidscrew'andirotatabl'e and axially movable therewith, a pin screw threaded through said flange andengage'ableiwith said lever in predetermined axial positions of. said valvev operating'screwifor moving said'lever'from one to the other of its limits of movements, arskirt means carri'ecf by saidvalveoperating screw and movable rotatably and axiallytherewith and'providedwith a slot adjacent the pin'and effective through all other axial positions of' the valve operating screw" for maintaining the switch operating lever at the limits of its movement.

CLAUDIUS RUSSELL McCAULEY.

REFERENCES GITED" The following references are oi record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES-- PATENTS l\`unober Name Date 792,253 Grinnell June 13, 1905 896,854 Spanier Aug. 25,v 1908 1,127,232 Grimes Y Feb; 2,` 1915 1,410,317 Jones Mar. 2l, 1922 2,099,417 Bast Nov. I6, 1937 FGREIGN PATENTS.

Number' Country 'Date' 492,033 Great' BritainV Sept: 14; 1938 

